*Chicago ranks #15 on NCAR's top 20 list of most arts-vibrant large communities.

Of course, I’m not surprised that the Chicago Metro area ranked among the top 20 “most arts vibrant” large communities in the recently-released 2017 Arts Vibrancy Index.

Chicago is one of the world’s great cultural capitals, attracting 54 million visitors last year. We are the birthplace of storefront theater, modern architecture, footwork, improv, poetry slams, gospel music, the urban blues and more. Chicago’s creative talent is supporting our burgeoning film and design industries. Our great urban parks, which are increasingly filled with festivals, performances and public art, make Chicago a great place to live and work. Our colleges and universities are attracting thousands of creative students—and young people in Chicago from early childhood through high school are increasingly engaged in creative pursuits.

But the Chicago area’s ranking as #15 doesn’t reflect the total picture of government arts funding in Chicago.

Strengthening our communities through the arts is a top priority for Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The mayor’s Night Out in the Parks program is bringing performance and art to public spaces in every ward of our city. In 2016, Night Out in the Parks presented 2,109 events—including movies, theater, music, family festivals and dance. And the mayor’s Year of Public Art initiative in 2017 has engendered a new 50x50 Neighborhood Arts Project with new public artworks for all 50 wards, the creation of a Public Art Youth Corps, a new Public Art Festival, exhibitions, performances, tours and more—representing a $1.5 million investment in artist-led community projects.